Time off work…

[Erin Guy]

Hi, so I’m getting my BA on the 3rd of June. I’m a nurse working in intensive care so my job can be quite heavy. my surgeon advised at least a week off work.. I’ve taken two weeks annual leave and arranged my shifts so I essentially have three weeks off between my surgery and going back to work. But people have been saying I’ll need a lot longer off than that and I’m going to struggle going back that soon after. any other nurses had BA or anyone else with a job that sometimes requires heavy lifting?
My first week back I’m going to request patients who are the most independent to avoid too much strenuous activity but any advice or experience would be much appreciated! x

• This topic was modified 5 years, 7 months ago by Erin Guy 10.

Hi Erin, I’m having my op the day after yours on 4th June and I’m a midwife so similar worries!! I’ve only got 12 days off work but have requested to work the post natal ward for 6 weeks after and hopefully I’ll be able to ask colleagues for help with any lifting etc! My surgeon said it shouldn’t be too painful as I’m having overs but I know pain can be subjective so I hope he’s right!! I guess you’ll just have to assess any situations and ask for help if you can!

I’m a teacher in a special needs school and the job can be quite physical. Luckily I planned it so I had my op in the summer hols but I would say I’d have been fine to go back after 2 weeks 🙂 you’ve done the right thing planning for 2/3 weeks off rather than only one. Obviously everyone’s recovery can vary a bit but I think you both should be fine x

I got told 7 days would be enough time off at my initial consultation. I’ve just seen my nurse for pre-op (op 4th June) and she said to take another week off. I’m a veterinary nurse, I have told my manager and when I’m back she’s made sure I’m with people on shift that can lift etc as a few pregnant women in my work. Hopefully that’s enough for me?? Goodluck

Hi there. I’m an OT in a psychiatric ward, I’m taking two weeks off annual leave

I’m a midwife. I had my op in April. I had two weeks off and got moved out to community so I didn’t have to do any lifting. Was back to driving after day 10 and stopped taking pain relief on day 5. Unfortunately I did get called out to a homebirth on my own 2 days back and had to do heavy lifting but all was good. Just made sure I had a very supportive bra on and made sure to chill when I could, days off etc.

I had 2 weeks off after my BA under muscle, I have a tiny frame. My first week back this week and I work with babies in a nursery, I’m on light duties so no lifting and pulling ect. I’m struggling still lifting my arms and still have the odd pains. Everyone heals differently but it sounds like you have done the best thing ?

Hi Erin, how did you get on In the end? I’m going under the muscle and I was officially going to take 3 weeks off work unpaid but i was sort of hoping two weeks and request light duties? Xxx

Hi @Gemma sorry for the late reply! I was absolutely fine! I had one particularly heavy shift involving many heavy bags of fluid but I just asked people for help carrying stuff! no real issues! xx

I’m a doctor so my job doesn’t involve any heavy lifting or anything, but I have used 2 weeks off as Annual leave, and then got a sick note for 1 week so total of 20 days off. My surgeon had advised about 3 weeks off, which I found pretty long to take as just sick leave so I used up all my annual leave, as I’m still in training and 1 week sick doesn’t look as bad on my team. The only concern I had was with crash and CPR working in a hospital. I know 2 nurses who had BA where I work and all of them said they took just 1 week off. One of them was a medical ward nurse so she was careful when having to lift fluid bags and got colleagues to help with things like moving patients. The other was a nurse at a GP practice which was lighter in terms of work as it didn’t involve moving patients

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